The Russellville Democrat., 1887-09-28
THE kARA-KIReHEsE.
Customs of and Life Among the Semi-Bal
harlan siberian Nomads.

Customs of and Life Among the Semi Bar
barian siberian Nomads.
The Kara Kirphese are essentially a
nation of shepherds and breeders OF
cattle, and think it a ''come-down" in
life when compelled to resort TO settled
occupations They are not so rich as
their brethren in the plains. Very
few own as many as two thousand
horses or three thousand sheep. Also
they have fewer camels; but, on the
othor hand, possess an excellent breed
of oxen for traversing the mountains.
Their cows are large, but do not yield
much milk Yaks are kept by them
instead. Their cattle-breeding claims
far less labor than agriculture. but is
exposed to great risks. For the sup
port of Nomad family for year are
required eleven head of large and ten
Of small cattle. and to provide hay for
the winter consumption even of this
number exceeds the working power Of
one household.
| was much interested to see some of
the Kirghcsc on the march. Their
wanderings are thus conducted; When
tho pasture in neighborhood is eaten,
one or two of the young men are sent
to select a suitable spot for another en-
eampment, and to clean out the wells.
This done, the women pack the tents
and the men form the cattle in droves.
The camp is ready and starts before
dawn, the good women of the family
riding in front. met one old lady in
this honorable position, mounted
.astride bullock and looking any
thing but graceful. After her came
the other women. variously mounted
on the top of carpets, teake tiles tents.
etc, the whole being made to wear. as
far as possible, a festive aspect. The
Aength of stage is from thirteen to
seventeen miles, and the ant traverses
about twenty-five miles in twenty-four
hours.
On arriving at the place of encamp-
ment it is the Office of the wife to put
up the tent / CHANGED to see a woman
begin to do so, and would not stir
from the spot till l had witnessed the
e,AAle operation. The principal parts
Foraksr<sa. or tent are large pieces of
ready to eat one OF e-work that con-
Cor breakfast, ,o,l;s,or,, snr
lat meet in the
stis-work arc sus-
'bitS bags, basins,
In Utensils. Not
sriety. however,
the cooking is
hsaucepan that
heY u fire in the
bepekery ware is
,..tzardous car
vte not cheap,
II duty not only
,,ecially those for
mt also pals.
are fur
1T 7 met with no
IS or teake, ties of En-
eheir place bein. supplied
.....s, or water-ewers, 8, 'me"hat
e ,embling coffee-pot Roua III Inc
= ais of the tent are piled boxes. SAD
Hes, rugs. and bales Of carpet, aga uss
which the occupants lean, the head 81
he household sitting opposite the :
loor, and in front of him the wife in
attendance.
Twas honored with an invitation to
line in one of these tents. the dishes
being put before us according to our
rank. heard nothing of grace before
meat, but never saw any thing to ex-
eeed the alacrity with which the dishes
were cleared Hands were knives and
fingers were forks, the meat being torn
from the bones MS by the teeth OF
hungry dogs. 1t is considered polite
for Kirghese superior to take hand
full of pieces of meat and stuff them
into the mouth of an inferior guest, an
elegancy saw practised on another
but from which. mercifully. myself
was excused. DR.. Henry LansdeH, in
Harper's Magazine.